Menlo vs. Mount Mercy College

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, CA with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Mercy University is larger than Menlo based on total student enrollment (1,417 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); Mount Mercy University is in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; Mount Mercy University 14:1.

Menlo vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo or Mount Mercy College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Mercy University than Menlo ($24,347 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 36.4% lower than at Menlo College ($11,600 vs. $18,236).
• Menlo College is 31.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Mercy College (about $12,752 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.2% higher at Menlo than at Mount Mercy University (about $12,752 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College as at Mount Mercy University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 27.5% larger than aid received by Mount Mercy University students ($39,174 vs. $30,735).

Menlo vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo or Mount Mercy College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mount Mercy College and Menlo.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Menlo - Test-free; Mount Mercy College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027; Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Menlo (3.3).
• Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than Menlo (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 27.9% at Mount Mercy College.

Menlo vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo and Mount Mercy College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Mount Mercy University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Menlo College's (34%).
• Graduates from Menlo College earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,900 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Menlo College graduates have a $1,188 lower median loan debt than Mount Mercy College graduates ($21,062 vs. $22,250).
• Among borrowers, Menlo graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mount Mercy College graduates ($217 vs. $230).
• More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.